18 weeks(measurement day)
Posted by Laurie Stilwell in 18 weeks! (measurement day), Bringing You Baby! on May 3, 2012
Hello friends! I am a whopping four and a half months along now and geez, it is going fast! Woo hoo! I am pleased to say that the last few weeks have been smooth sailing for this pregnant momma…no sickness, or too many mood swings, or overwhelming exhausting days. The second trimester ROCKS thus far and I am happy to brag about it.
I’ve been having a fun time documenting all my maternity outfits. I love the feel and look of them. I don’t know why I would want to hide my growing belly in sweat pants and baggy t-shirts. I love my changing body and I am so thankful that I am able to enjoy all my new curves. Perhaps my tune will change as I get bigger and close to full term, but for now I genuinely enjoy dressing my pregnant body in cute maternity clothes.
Check it out!!!!
16 weeks:
17weeks:
18weeks:
SYMPTOMS:
No bad symptoms. If it weren’t for my changing body, I’d have no idea I was pregnant. =) Although I will say I THINK I am starting to feel baby move around. As a first time mom, it’s hard to identify what I am exactly feeling because I don’t know what to compare it to. It kind of feels like bubbly gas, or like a quick flutter of butterfly wings.
BABY:
Baby is the size of a bell pepper(about 5 1/2 inches) weighing in at almost 7 ounces. Baby is busy moving around, flexing its arms and legs…growing stronger every day…practicing its reflexes. I CAN’T WAIT to feel a good strong kick!
NUTRITION AND CRAVINGS:
I’ve been extra hungry lately. My baby is growing rapidly so increased appetite makes sense.
I’m not craving anything special. I am so glad that veggies and salads are back in my life. I need to focus more on veggies though and less on cookie dough ice cream. YES!!! Even trainers eat ice cream. Especially this pregnant trainer.
If you remember, coffee was on my “nasty list” two weeks ago, but not any more. One day I woke up to the smell of Michael’s coffee brewing in the kitchen and I just knew, based on how my body reacted to the smell alone, that my relationship with coffee was back ON. Mmmm, that first cup of coffee was so delicious. It had been 4 months without it. I am back to drinking a cup a day now.
Oh, hey Big Red gum- you are yummy!!!! All other gum is still like a funeral in my mouth, but BIG RED is a freaking party!!!
MICHAEL:
Oh, my dear sweet Michael. I could have a blog solely devoted to bragging on him, but it would make all my readers nauseous with love overload. I’m sorry but I just can’t hide the fact that I am so in love with this man. I couldn’t ask for any one more perfect to grow a family with.
He is so excited about this babe. He already talks about all the things he wants to do with the baby and all the places he wants to take us. He constantly tells me how proud of me he is and how thankful he is to me for carrying our baby.
MY PREGNANCY MOMENT:
Michael and I were doing dishes together and he jokingly poked me in the butt with a meat skewer. He was meaning to be cute and flirty, but I must have been having an emotional, highly charged with hormones moment, because I reacted a bit dramatically. I melted into tears and through my sobs asked him why he had to prod me like cattle. Dead serious, looking at him like he just called me hideous or something, I cried on, asking him over and over why he would treat me like cattle he was trying to corral. Yet, within seconds, my senses returned and I was over it. What the heck was that all about? I could literally feel myself riding the hormones like a wave. It came in fast, huge and powerful and just as quickly, it crashed, subsided and left me.
WORKOUTS: I am still focusing on cycling, walking, and lifting. Working out feels great pregnant. I feel like I am interacting with my baby. As I huff and puff and work my heart, I know(and as studies support) I am directly helping my babe’s heart and lungs grow stronger. I believe that taking care of myself is in conjunction with take caring of my baby, especially when it comes to having a healthy, easier labor.
STATS: I have officially “popped”. I have an unmistakeable belly bump and I LOVE it. I am excited to watch it grow. I had my first stranger ask me if I was pregnant. Now THAT made it feel really REAL.
Measurements: The first # is my 14 weeks measurement, the second # is my current, 18 week measurement.
Scale 134/138
Arm 10/10 Chest 36/37
Ribcage 31/31.75Â Smallest part of waist 30/31
Belly Button 32/33.75Â Hips 36.50/37
Thigh(8 inches above knee) 20/20.5
16 weeks!
Posted by Laurie Stilwell in 16 weeks!, Bringing You Baby! on April 19, 2012
That’s 4 months people! WOW!! It has gone by so fast so far. Though, if I had it my way, the first trimester could have gone faster. The second trimester really has been so much better for me.
I am still amazed by how much more energy I have and how much longer I am able to stay up at night, which is still a modest 10-11pm (on weekends). No more need for naps as of late. Foods are much more appealing now and I’m not dealing with nearly as bad of indigestion. My indigestion has improved in part because I am learning to eat much less at meals, even if I am hungry for more. The trick for me is to eat small meals every 2 hours, whereas before I was eating every 3-4 hours.
My little world hasn’t changed too much since the last time I wrote, though my body sure has. I feel like I can say I officially have a bump! It’s tiny but surely there! I still feel like a stranger wouldn’t know I’m pregnant, because I’m in the awkward stage of where I have a bump , but yet, I have not quite fully popped. I can imagine that to a stranger I just look like I have had a few too many beers and nachos. I can’t wait to have a full blown belly! REALLY!!!! I want it now!!!! Bring it on baby!!!
Here is a pic of me Michael took just days ago. You can see the bump much more when I hold it.
16 weeks:
Last week I was shocked to find out that I no longer fit in ANY of my jeans… not even my “fat day” ones. Even my underwear wasn’t fitting right. I had thongs that were NOT suppose to be thongs, bursting seams on sports bras, and straps popping off of my regular bras. It was a mess. Before things got worse, I headed out to do some shopping!
In regard to clothes, everyone has different theories on when and what to buy during pregnancy, but I found what works for me. I decided to invest in a few staple maternity pieces that I know I can grow with and will last throughout the whole pregnancy. I plan to keep great care of my clothes and use them for my next pregnancy as well. At first, I tried just buying bigger sizes of regular clothes, but they were so uncomfortable and hit my body in all the wrong places. I love how maternity clothes are built to perfectly suit my new curves. Everyone scared me with how expensive maternity clothes are, but they really aren’t that bad. You just have to look around and do some bargain shopping. For example, I plan to look for more maternity clothes next week at the gently used “everything baby” sale held at Scottsdale Bible Church. Click this link for more info on the big sale.
Below are some pics of my new maternity jeans. The long stretchy band may be ugly but it is so comfortable and no one sees it any way. I am SO glad I invested in these.
15 weeks:
15 weeks:
I’ll wrap up this update with a funny story that happened to me over the weekend. We were at a party and I was drinking ginger ale and hanging in the kitchen with a bunch of girls. I picked up, what I thought to be my drink, and finished the last swig of it only to find out that it was WHISKEY! Immediate EW in my mouth…mainly because I wasn’t expecting it. I half real/half jokingly freaked out and asked all my mommy friends what that would do to the baby! They all assured me that it was not a big deal and that it wasn’t enough to do anything. Regardless, the placebo effect had sunk in and I was an instant drunk. Haha, not really of course, but it was quite fun convincing myself that I was feeling something.
Speaking of drinking, I do miss an ice cold beer. At first, I barely noticed it’s absence, but lately, as it has gotten more hot outside, I find myself wanting a Kilt Lifter!!!!!!(one of my fav beers)
The other week, Michael went out and got me a six pack of O’douls (non alcoholic beer). It had the chill and bite I was looking for, but not the same overall taste. Haha, but it will suffice for now.